GRADUATION GROOVE

Myriad books talk about the first day of school; few address the other end of that rite of passage: kindergarten graduation.

Combining scenes of the kindergarten students as their day progresses toward that fateful moment onstage with mentions of body parts in the rollicking verses, Heling and Hembrook really maximize the beat. “Got the graduation groove / in my kindergarten hands. / I’m putting on my cap, / making first-grade plans.” Though not all the verses scan so well, they give readers/listeners an idea of what graduation looks like, a look back at all the things they learned in kindergarten that will serve them well in first grade, and some of the things they might miss as well as a few they have to look forward to. “Got the first-grade jitters / in my kindergarten skin. / What if I don’t like it? / My insides start to spin.” Sonda’s bright, pastel-hued illustrations show a diverse class; many of their family members are in the audience and at the celebratory party afterward. Though body type is largely similar, there’s a wide range of skin tones. One child uses forearm crutches, another a wheelchair, and a third sports pink glasses. The kids’ exuberance can barely be contained on the pages. (This book was reviewed digitally with 9.8-by-16.6-inch double-page spreads viewed at 28.2% of actual size.)

A solid pick for the end of a momentous year (though not this Covid one).